Energy-efficient homes may contribute to rise in asthma rates

While the "green" movement may bode well from an energy-efficiency standpoint, but the trend certainly doesn't have everyone breathing easier.

"For every solution, there's a problem," said Dr. Nathan Rabinovitch, an asthma specialist at National Jewish Health. "Energy efficiency is really, really important, but at the same time, with the homes that we are building today, allergens getting into the house are staying in the house."

That includes things such as smoke, mold, bacteria and pet dander. And for the nearly 26 million Americans who suffer from asthma, that's causing a wide range of problems.

"It used to be when homes were built, a lot of air would come out through the roof and through the windows," Rabinovitch said. "But now we've become so efficient at sealing off those areas that everything is getting trapped inside the house, and that's making a lot of people sick."

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Rabinovitch says the movement to build more energy-efficient homes began in the 1970s, after the nation's first energy crisis. Since then, concerns about the environment and a downturn in the economy have converged to make energy efficiency much more of a priority in the housing industry.

But something else happened during that same timeframe: asthma rates started going up. In fact, since 1970, the number of Americans with asthma has nearly tripled. That's not a coincidence, Rabinovitch says.

"The problem is, a lot of the air pollution in our home is actually in the carpet or on the soft furniture," he said in a press release Friday. "If someone walks on the carpet or sits on the couch, they end up getting this kind of personal exposure and with little ventilation in homes today, that pollution has nowhere to go, so it settles into our lungs."

It's not just natural allergens such as mold and pollen that can trigger asthma attacks, the doctor says. Some of the biggest problems are caused by choices we make.

"Pet dander and cigarette smoke are probably two of the most dangerous triggers there are," Rabinovitch said. "I always tell my patients that if there are smokers in the house or pets that are causing problems, those have to be addressed before anything else."

Rabinovitch also offers some simple advice to anyone who will listen. "The best way to control indoor air pollution is to look outdoors," he said. "Simply opening your windows more often will ventilate your house and will help dry out and clear out many of the things that could be making you sick."